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| Motorcycle Message Board - Motorcycle USA > MotorcycleUSA.com! > Talk Back > 2006 XR650R | Forum Quick Jump
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bmadson
MCUSA Scribbler
      
Date Joined Jul 2005
Total Posts : 1038
| Posted 10/24/2005 10:16 AM (GMT -8) |   | | As you may well know, we've been working on some big plans here at MCUSA to kick some ass down in Mexico during the Baja 1000. Well, after taking our lumps in Vegas-to-Reno, we've readjusted our goals a bit, hoping merely to survive. We feel pretty confident in our chances though since we're going to be aboard the most badass desert bike available. Check out our test of the stock XR650R to see what we started with when the journey began. | | Back to Top | | |
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Reg
Registered Member
Date Joined Jan 2005
Total Posts : 277
| Posted 10/24/2005 12:56 PM (GMT -8) | | | Same old XR. Powerful, dependable, solid as a rock and probally the most fun "all-around" dirt bike ever produced. | | Back to Top | | |
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Hilde44
MotoUSA - Dirt Guy
Date Joined Sep 2005
Total Posts : 469
| Posted 10/25/2005 3:46 PM (GMT -8) | | Desmo,
Man, I'd be happy to get 19 on the HIGHWAY with my pickup! We came up with that figure based on our own experiences. We put full tanks through those beast on wide-open stuff and we did the same on tighter trail rides sprinkled with gravel roads, but the mileage was always in the same region. That isn't to say that different styles of riding will make it go for less or more, but for us we kept hitting reserve at around 50 miles. | | Back to Top | | |
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Hilde44
MotoUSA - Dirt Guy
Date Joined Sep 2005
Total Posts : 469
| Posted 10/25/2005 3:46 PM (GMT -8) | | Desmo,
Man, I'd be happy to get 19 on the HIGHWAY with my pickup! We came up with that figure based on our own experiences. We put full tanks through those beast on wide-open stuff and we did the same on tighter trail rides sprinkled with gravel roads, but the mileage was always in the same region. That isn't to say that different styles of riding will make it go for less or more, but for us we kept hitting reserve at around 50 miles. | | Back to Top | | |
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Hilde44
MotoUSA - Dirt Guy
Date Joined Sep 2005
Total Posts : 469
| Posted 10/26/2005 7:35 AM (GMT -8) | | OhioSteve,
First off, thanks for the feedback! That kind of stuff is great for us to hear! We do this stuff for you guys, and we want to be as fair as possible while giving you the kind of content that you're looking for, so keep letting us know what we're doing right or wrong...
If you're going to buy a purpose-built dirt bike that performs well in the tight trails, you shoud probably look no further that a smaller-bore machine like the KTM 200XC or one of the off-road 250 thumpers. Of course there are bigger bikes that work tremendously in the woods, especially if you are a larger rider, but as far as purpose-built goes, those XR650s are desert racing machines, WFO.
I do share your desire, however, to have a bike that can at least perform in all kinds of terrain, and the XR does do that. If I gave the impression that the Honda is incapable of handling tight trails, then it was misleading. Just remember, this thing is big, and when push comes to shove, 305 pounds is going to work you over slimy roots, log crossings and all the wonderful nasties we encounter in the woods.
If you are interested in going street legal on the XR, there are several options. First, if you start with an XR650R model like we had, then aftermarket kits like the Baja Designs one that we bolted on can get you on the way to dual-sporting. But, perhaps an easier way is to just buy an XR650L which actually costs less than the R and comes stock with signals, plate holder and the like (it also has a 2.8 gal tank, slightly bigger than the R). | | Back to Top | | |
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louemc
Registered Member
Date Joined Mar 2003
Total Posts : 15451
| Posted 2/4/2007 2:49 PM (GMT -8) | | Just adding to (or supporting) what the MCUSA crew have said here. Two of the bikes I Desert raced, were XR500R's and, I also rode them in the logging road area's of Oregon, that MC trails have been made on, (and from). That covers a lot of Desert wide open throttle, and forrested mountain, tight trails / steep ups and downs. Everything they said is right.
When it comes to how much of a challenge to handle the bike is, it seperates the men from the boys. A dirt rider that knows how to handle the XR500R, makes it look like a 250. It's all a question of is the power working for you, or is the weight working against you. It was too heavy for me, too much of the time, but the guys that taught me how to race, liked mine so much (we would trade bikes sometimes) they switched to XR500R's and I switched to KTM 495 (two stroke). One day, (play riding, and on a trace of a road called a two track, that wound through a Juniper forrest (Close to Prineville Oregon) Those two guys on their XR's rode side by side for miles, on the rear wheel, and the road is constant tight turns and some rocky parts, and those two guys are in perfect syncro, turning with power and body english, in a dance. That's something that the XR inspires to do, it's a fun bike.
Because it's four stroke gas milage was so much better than the two stroke bikes, I could skip a gas stop. That is such a rush, to go past everyone stopped for gas, and do it at full throttle, front wheel lofted, and for the pit people (a lot of Mom's and Dad's and Girl friends) that was the only part of the race they saw, and almost everyone they saw was pulling in, stopped or leaving. That's not quite as impressive as full throttle and flying 
Focus the forces, Be The Force | | Back to Top | | |
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